What Can You Do to Relieve an Itchy Belly?

Updated: August 8, 2018

Many pregnant women suffer from an itchy belly as their baby bump grows. Here are some remedies suggested by dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu.

Sometimes your bump isn’t just cute but itchy. If all you can think of sometimes is scratching the itchy skin on your growing belly, you’re not alone. Lots of moms-to-be struggle with this particular pregnancy skin symptom. But what can you do about it? Heidi Murkoff, What to Expect founder, and her daughter and second-time mom-to-be Emma Bing sit down with dermatologist Dr. Jessica Wu to find out how to soothe an itchy pregnant belly.

What causes itchy belly during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a perfect storm for itchiness. As your ever-growing bump (and baby) expand, your skin stretches. With that stretching, Dr. Wu says the nerve endings under the skin get irritated or tickled and cause that uncomfortable itchy feeling. Plus, as your skin stretches, it also thins, which can deprive the skin of moisture and exacerbate that itchiness.

At what point in pregnancy does it start?

While each woman is different, itchy belly is more common in the later stages of pregnancy. Most women can expect to feel itchy in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy when their bump really start to grow. But it depends on the person.

What are the best ways to treat it?

This first treatment can be challenging: Don’t scratch. You risk breaking the skin and getting an infection. If you really need some relief, Dr. Wu says it's okay to pat the skin.

To help prevent the need to scratch, Dr. Wu recommends keeping the skin moisturized by massaging with cocoa butter or almond oil. Dr. Wu also says a lukewarm oatmeal bath can provide some much-needed moisture and soothing. Try these great moisturizing products. The good news? Using these products may help prevent stretch marks too.

If you feel like there’s no relief in sight, Dr. Wu. suggests asking your doctor about small amounts of mild cortisone or topical Benadryl.

If you have a visible rash — especially blistering, pustules and pimples — all-over itching, a fever, or otherwise don’t feel well, you should discuss these symptoms with your doctor, says Dr. Wu.

How long does itchy belly last?

Good news! You can expect relief after delivery when your skin stops stretching.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.